Sony’s iconic Aibo robot dog is making a return, and naturally, it is better than ever. Not only is it much more lifelike now, the new Aibo is also connected to the cloud, which allows it to learn from other Aibo units – among other things.
Among the new hardware that let Aibo move and act like a real pet dog are “ultra-compact actuators” that let its body move on 22 axes (it can even wag its tail!). Its eyes, on the other hand, are essentially OLED displays. As for battery life, Aibo is said to last around two hours on a single charge; it needs to be plugged in for three hours for a full charge.
Beyond these hardware, Sony claims that Aibo uses deep learning technology. Its behaviour is adaptable, it seek out its owners – Aibo can even learn how to make them happy – and its various sensors can also analyse sounds and images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJciRIZQTg4
Interestingly, there’s also an app for Aibo dubbed My Aibo. Through the app, users can access photos taken with Aibo’s camera, download tricks from the online store, and of course, view its settings. On top of that, Aibo also requires a subscription, which costs 2,980 Japanese yen (about RM110) a month; this subscription has to be maintained for at least three years.
There’s also this Aibone accessory, which retails at 2,980 yen too.
These costs, added on top of Aibo’s hefty 198,000 yen (approximately RM7,350) price tag, make for a very costly “pet” to maintain. But hey, it’s an adorable robot dog, and it is currently available for pre-order in Japan. Aibo will officially go on sale in the country on 11 January 2018.
(Source: The Verge)
